Man arrested in Framingham two days in a row ordered to jail

Wednesday

Mar 29, 2017 at 11:09 PM

Bill Shaner Daily News staff @bill_shaner

FRAMINGHAM – A homeless man bargained for a reduced sentence, leveraging the future crimes he will commit if not allowed to stay in state-provided housing, at his arraignment on attempted credit card theft Wednesday.

David Bradford, 42, was sentenced to 120 days in house of correction after police arrested him on connection with a plot to steal about $1,000 in merchandise with stolen credit cards. He was charged with two counts of identity fraud, three counts of improper credit card use, two counts of attempting to commit a crime and resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to all charges besides resisting arrest, which was dropped before his arraignment.

It was the second consecutive day Bradford was arrested. On Tuesday, Bradford was arrested for violating a restraining order.

Bypassing his defense attorney at Framingham District Court and speaking to Judge David Cunis directly, he offered that a sentence longer than 60 days will force him out of newly acquired housing from the South Middlesex Opportunity Council.

"I'm going to lose my housing. I'm going to pay 100 a day for hotel rooms, so what am I going to do? Rob and steal," he said.

He offered to serve a 60-day sentence with a 60-day probation.

"Come on, work with me, your honor," he said.

Cunis did not. Stressing the seriousness of property crimes, and the damage they cause the victims, he stood by the 120-day sentence.

Police arrested Bradford at 12:33 a.m. Wednesday following a lead he had stolen credit cards out of a car and tried to use them at several local businesses. The cards declined, and automatic alerts from the bank to the owner helped the police investigate, according to the report.

Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-626-3957 or at wshaner@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.